Messages of Congratulations

Messages of congratulations have been exchanged between the Hon. Dr George W. Vella, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Environment and Mr Evgeny Primakov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the setting up of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The messages, being published simultaneously today 29 July 1997 in Valletta and Moscow, are as follows:

30th June, 1997
His Excellency
Yevgeny M. Primakov
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Russian Federation

Excellency

On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, the Maltese Government extends its greetings and best wishes to the Government of the Russian Federation.

During these thirty years, the relations between our two countries have been conducted in a spirit of cooperation which has augmented the trust and friendship existing between our governments for the mutual benefit of our two peoples.

It is with great confidence that the Government of the Republic of Malta looks to a further strengthening of our relations based on a common desire for peace and stability in the world and in particular for security and prosperity in the European and Mediterranean regions.

Yours sincerely

(signed) George W. Vella

Deputy Prime Minister

and Minister of Foreign Affairs

and the Environment

Unofficial translation

THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Moscow, July 4, 1997

Dr Mr Minister,

July 26, 1997 is a memorable date in the calendar of the Russian - Maltese history: diplomatic relations between our countries were established 30 years ago. But, of course, feelings of friendship and mutual sympathy between our peoples have got more long standing and much deeper roots. Next year there will be the 300th Anniversary of the visit to Malta of the first Russian envoy, Count Boris Scheremetyev, who in 1698 delivered to Valletta a message of the Russian Tzar Peter I. Nevertheless today one can safely say that for the last thirty years, thanks to the goodwill of both sides, a lot has been done for setting up and developing the Russian - Maltese relations. Mutually beneficial contacts between different representatives of our countries have been established, trade increases, legal base of our relationship is getting strengthened. Important place in the system of bilateral treaties, which are now in force, belongs to the Intergovernmental Agreement of October 8, 1981 on the recognition, respect and support of the status of the Republic of Malta as a neutral state pursuing the policy of non-alignment.

Joint Declaration on Friendship and Cooperation signed by our countries in December, 1992 opens up real prospects for further all-round development and strengthening of the Russian - Maltese relationship and creates good pre-conditions for mutually beneficial business cooperation. We count on continuation of a political dialogue on international matters of current interest, first of all on all-European and Mediterranean affairs. Practical interaction on working out a security model for Europe of the XXI century, including the Charter of European Security, with a view of establishing Europe free from dividing lines and united in its devotion to democracy and good-neighbourly cooperation, is today becoming of particular importance.

Please accept, Mr Minister, wishes of peace, happiness and well-being to the friendly people of Malta.

Yours sincerely,

/signed/

E.PRIMAKOV

HIS EXCELLENCY DR GEORGE VELLA

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF MALTA AND MINISTER

OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Valletta